Two-way plow with hydraulic trip and reset

ABSTRACT

A two-way semi-mounted plow comprises a pull tube having a rear steerable tail wheel and which journals a diagonal beam mounting two rows of opposed left and right-hand plow bottoms. Power means is provided for rotating the beam 180* to alternately engage each row of bottoms with the ground. Each bottom is mounted on the end of a support arm which is pivoted to the beam. A hydraulic ram interconnects each pair of opposed support arms to extend the bottoms until the other ends of the support arms abut the beam. Upon encountering an obstacle, a bottom will deflect, compressing the ram which reacts through the opposed support arm on the frame. Thus only one ram is required for each pair of opposed bottoms.

United States Patent Richey [151 3,662,840 [451 May 16, 1972 [54]TWO-WAY PLOW WITH HYDRAULIC TRIP AND RESET [72] Inventor: Clarence B.Richey, Fresno, Calif.

[73] Assignee: Massey-Ferguson, Inc., Des Moines, Iowa [22] Filed: Jan.21, 1969 [21] Appl. No.1 792,391

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 201,908 7/1958 Germany 172/224 79,27710/ l 962 France 172/224 148,617 3/1961 U.S.S.R. 1 72/572 PrimaryExaminer-Clyde l. Coughenour AttorneyGerhardt, Greenlee & Farris [57]ABSTRACT A two-way semi-mounted plow comprises a pull tube having a rearsteerable tail wheel and which journals a diagonal beam mounting tworows of opposed left and right-hand plow bottoms. Power means isprovided for rotating the beam 180 to alternately engage each row ofbottoms with the ground. Each bottom is mounted on the end of a supportarm which is pivoted to the beam. A hydraulic ram interconnects eachpair of opposed support arms to extend the bottoms until the other endsof the support arms abut the beam. Upon encountering an obstacle, abottom will deflect, compressing the ram which reacts through theopposed support arm on the frame. Thus only one ram is required for eachpair of opposed bottoms.

7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures TWO-WAY PLOW WITH HYDRAULIC TRIP AND RESETThis invention relates generally to earthworking implements and moreparticularly to a hydraulic trip and reset mechanism for a tractor-drawntwo-way plow.

To met the growing demand for a two-way plowing implement, semi-mountedplows have been developed which have rows of opposed left and right-handplow bottoms which may alternately be moved into ground engagingposition. As with a conventional one-way plow, use of such an implementin extremely rocky soil would require the provision of a trip mechanismto permit movement of .the individual plow bottoms out of groundengagingposition upon encountering an obstacle, such as a rock, in the ground toprevent damage, in the nature of deformation or fracture, to the plowbottom.

Conventional one-way plows utilize a separate trip mechanism for eachindividual bottom. A two-way plow provided with a similar arrangementwould utilize only half the trip mechanisms at any one time. Thisarrangement would thus be uneconomical. Also, the spaced limitationscaused by the close proximity of the two rows of opposed plow bottomswould present problems in design, manufacture and service.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a twoway plowwith a single trip mechanism for each pair of opposed bottoms, therebyhalving the number of required trip mechanisms by utilizing each tripmechanism at all times.

In accordance with this invention, a plow or other earthworkingimplement is provided with a frame which mounts a plurality of pairs ofopposed earthworking tools or plow bottoms for movement by operatingmeans between alternate operative ground engaging and elevatedpositions, and trip means for enabling movement of each tool out ofoperative position, including means enabling swinging movement of eachtool into and out of operative position, abutment means on each tool andon the frame engageable to limit the swinging movement into operativeposition, and biasing means extending between each pair of opposed toolsand biasing the abutment means into engagement, whereby swingingmovement of a tool out of operative position is resisted by the biasingmeans reacting on the frame through the opposed tool and abutment means.

These and additional objects and features of this invention will becomemore readily apparent upon reference to the following detaileddescription of a preferred embodiment, as shown in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a two-way plow having trip mechanismsaccording to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the plow shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along lines 33-25ofFlG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the lustrating theoperation of the trip mechanisms.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a semimounted turnoverplowing implement, generally designated 10, includes a draft framemember or pull tube 12 which is mounted on a C-shaped bracket 14 that isconnected by a pivot rod 16 to a draft bracket 18. The bracket 18includes a pair of oppositely extending cross bars 20 which areconventionally mounted to the lower draft links 22 of a tractor (notshown).

The pull tube 12 extends rearwardly and journals a sleeve 24 thereon.Sleeve 24 rigidly mounts a diagonal frame member or beam 26 which isconnected at its forward end to the outer end of a frame member 28. Acollar 30, rotatably supported on the forward portion of pull tube 12mounts the inner end of frame member 28. Rearwardly of sleeve 24, pulltube 12 journals another sleeve 32 that mounts a C-shaped bracket 34. Arod 36 is journalled in bracket 34 and mounts an angled bracket 38 thatcarries a steerable rear furrow wheel 40.

Forwardly of collar 30, pull tube 12 rigidly mounts a pair of opposedtransverse arms 42 and 44 which mount respective latch members 46 and 48at their extremities. A hydraulic ram 50 is pivoted at 52 to pull tube12 and has its output arm 54 atplow, il-

tached to a mounting member 56 on frame member 28. Ram 50 is suppliedwith pressure fluid by conventional means from the tractor hydraulicsystem, not shown.

Beam 26 mounts a plurality of spaced pairs of brackets 58 whichpivotally mount pairs of opposed support arms 60 at 62. At its outwardend, each arm 60 supports a mounting member 64 which mounts aconventional plow bottom of either the left-hand type 66L or of theright-hand type 66R.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the inner end of each arm 60 includes an angledabutment surface 68 which is engageable with an abutment plate 70mounted on pull tube 12 to limit pivotal movement of each of the bottomsoutwardly of the frame into an operative position, as shown in FIGS. 1and 3. Biasing means in the form of a hydraulic ram 72 is pivoted at 74to each of the opposed pairs of support arms 60L and 60R at a pointintermediate mounting member 64 and pivot 62. The rams 72 are eachinterconnected with a source of constant hydraulic pressure, such as aaccumulator or the tractor hydraulic system, not shown, in aconventional manner. Pressurization of the rams 72 forces the opposedbottoms 661.. and 66R apart to engage the abutrnents 68 and 70.

When the low 10 is in use, rams 72 bias the ground engaging row of plowbottoms 66R into engagement with the earth, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.When an obstruction is encountered, such as rock 76 shown in FIG. 4,with a force sufiicient to overcome the force exerted by ram 72, theobstructed plow bottom 66R is forced upwardly, collapsing the ram whichtransmits this force, or reacts, on beam 26, through support arm 60L andabutrnents 68 and 70 of the opposed bottom 66L. With this arrangement itis readily apparent that only one ram 72 is required for each pair ofopposed plow bottoms. This is accomplished by permitting the ram toreact on the frame through the opposed bottom support structure ratherthan directly on the frame, as is conventional in one-way plows.

Operation of the ram 50 to reverse the positions of the plow bottoms,so-that bottoms 66L engage the earth and bottoms 66R are elevated, isfully disclosed in copending application Ser. No. 524,191, and now U.S.Pat. No. 3,524,509 entitled, Semi-mounted Earthworking Implement, filedFeb. 1, 1966. Briefly, ram 50 is pressurized to extend and disengagelatch member 48 from mounting member 56. Further pressurization causessleeve 24 and collar 30 to pivot on pull tube 12 and move frame member28 and beam 26 and the plow bottoms through a 180 arc. This movement islimited by engagement of latch member 46 with mounting member 56 whichlocates bottoms 66L in earth engaging position, and bottoms 66Relevated. Thereafter, operation of the trip mechanisms is similar tothat just described, with upward movement of a bottom 66L being resistedby a ram 72 reacting, through an arm 60R and abutrnents 68 and 70 ofopposed bottom 66R, on beam 26.

The plow 10 further includes a steerable and automatically tiltablemechanism for the rear furrow wheel 40, as fully disclosed in theaforementioned copending application. Briefly, this arrangementcomprises a bevel gear 80 which meshes with a bevel gear 82 mounted on asteering rod 84 that extends concentrically through the pull tube 12 totermination with a bevel gear 86. Gear 86 meshes with another bevel gear88 mounted on the wheel pivot rod 36. The wheel 40 is automaticallytilted to run against the side of the outermost furrow by a mechanism 90which is operable to rotate sleeve 32 during movement of the beam 26.This mechanism is more fully set forth in the aforementioned copendingapplication.

While only a preferred embodiment of this invention is shown anddescribed, obvious modifications are contemplated within the scope ofthe appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a multi-bottom turnover plow having a frame whichmounts a plurality of pairs of opposed bottoms for concurrent movementbetween operative ground engaging and elevated positions, improved tripmeans for enabling temporary independent movement of each bottom out ofoperative position upon encountering an obstacle, comprising: mountingmeans mounting each bottom on the frame for independent movement intoand out of operative position, abutment means on each mounting means anon the frame engageable to limit such movement of the bottoms tooperative position, and biasing means extending between the opposedmounting means for biasing the abutment means into engagement toposition the opposed bottoms in operative position, whereby the saidmovement of a bottom out of operative position upon encountering anobstacle is resisted by biasing means which reacts through the opposedbottom and its abutment means on the frame, the mounting means eachinclude a support member mounting a bottom at one end and means pivotingthe support member to the frame at a spaced pivot point, the abutmentmeans include an abutment surface on the support member at a pointspaced from the pivot point and a corresponding abutment surface on theframe, and the support member pivot point is located between the plowbottom and the support member abutment surface.

2. In combination with a multi-bottom turnover plow having a frame whichmounts a plurality of pairs of opposed bottoms for concurrent movementbetween operative ground engaging and elevated positions, improved tripmeans for enabling temporary independent movement of each bottom out ofoperative position upon encountering an obstacle, comprising: mountingmeans mounting each bottom on the frame for movement into and out ofoperative position abutment means on the mounting means and on the frameengageable to limit such movement of the bottoms to operative position,and biasing means extending between the opposed mounting means forbiasing the abutment means into engagement to position the opposedbottoms in operative position, whereby the said movement of a bottom outof operative position upon encounterin g an obstacle is resisted by thebiasing means which reacts through the opposed bottom and its abutmentmeans on the frame, and the biasing means include a constant forcedevice interconnecting each pair of opposed mounting means and exertin ga constant force thereon to engage the abutment means and resist saidswinging movement of the bottoms out of operative position.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein; the constant force device is ahydraulic cylinder having a constant pressure supply for extending thecylinder to engage the abutments.

4. In combination with a multi-bottom turnover plow having a frame whichmounts a plurality of pairs of opposed bottoms for concurrent movementbetween operative ground engaging and elevated positions, improved tripmeans for enabling temporary independent movement of each bottom out ofoperative position upon encountering an obstacle, comprising:

mounting means mounting each bottom on the frame for independentmovement into and out of operative position, abutment means on eachmounting means and on the frame engageable to limit such movement of thebottoms to operative position, and biasing means extending between theopposed mounting means for biasing the abutment means into engagement toposition the opposed bottoms in operative position, whereby the saidmovement of a bottom out of operative position upon encountering anobstacle is resisted by the biasing means which reacts through theopposed bottom and its abutment means on the frame, the mounting meanseach include a support member mounting a bottom at one end and meanspivoting the support member to the frame at a spaced pivot point, theabutment means include an abutment surface on the support member at apoint spaced from the pivot point and a corresponding abutment surfaceon the frame, and wherein said biasing means include a constant forcedevice interconnecting each pair of opposed mounting means and exertinga constant force thereon to engage the abutment means and resist saidswinging movement of the bottoms out of operative position.

5. The combination of claim 4, wherein: the constant force device is ahydraulic cylinder having a constant pressure su l for extendin thecylinder to engage the abutments.

. A multi-bottom turnover plow, comprising in combination: a frame, tworows of plow bottoms arranged apart about the frame to form opposedpairs of bottoms, a plurality of supports each mounting a bottom at oneend thereof and pivoted to the frame at a spaced point to enableindividual swinging movement of the bottoms into and out of operativeposition, means for rotating the frame about a substantially horizontalaxis to alternately position each row of bottoms in ground engaging andelevated positions, abutment means on each support and on the frame tolimit swinging movement of each bottom to operative position, andbiasing means extending between the supports of each pair of opposedbottoms to bias the abutment means into engagement and position thebottoms in operative position, whereby swinging movement of a bottom outof operative position is resisted by the biasing means reacting throughthe opposed support and abutment means on the frame, and wherein thebiasing means include a constant force device interconnecting each pairof opposed mounting means and exerting a constant force thereon toengage the abutment means and resist said swinging movement of thebottoms out of operative position.

7. The combination of claim 6, wherein: the constant force device is ahydraulic cylinder having a constant pressure supply for extending thecylinder to engage the abutments.

1. In combination with a multi-bottom turnover plow having a frame whichmounts a plurality of pairs of opposed bottoms for concurrent movementbetween operative ground engaging and elevated positions, improved tripmeans for enabling temporary independent movement of each bottom out ofoperative position upon encountering an obstacle, comprising: mountingmeans mounting each bottom on the frame for independent movement intoand out of operative position, abutment means on each mounting means anon the frame engageable to limit such movement of the bottoms tooperative position, and biasing means extending between the opposedmounting means for biasing the abutment means into engagement toposition the opposed bottoms in operative position, whereby the saidmovement of a bottom out of operative position upon encountering anobstacle is resisted by biasing means which reacts through the opposedbottom and its abutment means on the frame, the mounting means eachinclude a support member mounting a bottom at one end and means pivotingthe support member to the frame at a spaced pivot point, the abutmentmeans include an abutment surface on the support member at a pointspaced from the pivot point and a corresponding abutment surface on theframe, and the support member pivot point is located between the plowbottom and the support member abutment surface.
 2. In combination with amulti-bottom turnover plow having a frame which mounts a plurality ofpairs of opposed bottoms for concurrent movement between operativeground engaging and elevated positions, improved trip means for enablingtemporary independent movement of each bottom out of operative positionupon encountering an obstacle, comprising: mounting means mounting eachbottom on the frame for movement into and out of operative positionabutment means on the mounting means and on the frame engageable tolimit such movement of the bottoms to operative position, and biasingmeans extending between the opposed mounting means for biasing theabutment means into engagement to position the opposed bottoms inoperative position, whereby the said movement of a bottom out ofoperative position upon encountering an obstacle is resisted by thebiasing means which reacts through the opposed bottom and its abutmentmeans on the frame, and the biasing means include a constant forcedevice interconnecting each pair of opposed mounting means and exertinga constant force thereon to engage the abutment means and resist saidswinging movement of the bottoms out of operative position.
 3. Thecombination of claim 2, wherein; the constant force device is ahydraulic cylinder having a constant pressure supply for extending thecylinder to engage the abutments.
 4. In combination wIth a multi-bottomturnover plow having a frame which mounts a plurality of pairs ofopposed bottoms for concurrent movement between operative groundengaging and elevated positions, improved trip means for enablingtemporary independent movement of each bottom out of operative positionupon encountering an obstacle, comprising: mounting means mounting eachbottom on the frame for independent movement into and out of operativeposition, abutment means on each mounting means and on the frameengageable to limit such movement of the bottoms to operative position,and biasing means extending between the opposed mounting means forbiasing the abutment means into engagement to position the opposedbottoms in operative position, whereby the said movement of a bottom outof operative position upon encountering an obstacle is resisted by thebiasing means which reacts through the opposed bottom and its abutmentmeans on the frame, the mounting means each include a support membermounting a bottom at one end and means pivoting the support member tothe frame at a spaced pivot point, the abutment means include anabutment surface on the support member at a point spaced from the pivotpoint and a corresponding abutment surface on the frame, and whereinsaid biasing means include a constant force device interconnecting eachpair of opposed mounting means and exerting a constant force thereon toengage the abutment means and resist said swinging movement of thebottoms out of operative position.
 5. The combination of claim 4,wherein: the constant force device is a hydraulic cylinder having aconstant pressure supply for extending the cylinder to engage theabutments.
 6. A multi-bottom turnover plow, comprising in combination: aframe, two rows of plow bottoms arranged 180* apart about the frame toform opposed pairs of bottoms, a plurality of supports each mounting abottom at one end thereof and pivoted to the frame at a spaced point toenable individual swinging movement of the bottoms into and out ofoperative position, means for rotating the frame about a substantiallyhorizontal axis to alternately position each row of bottoms in groundengaging and elevated positions, abutment means on each support and onthe frame to limit swinging movement of each bottom to operativeposition, and biasing means extending between the supports of each pairof opposed bottoms to bias the abutment means into engagement andposition the bottoms in operative position, whereby swinging movement ofa bottom out of operative position is resisted by the biasing meansreacting through the opposed support and abutment means on the frame,and wherein the biasing means include a constant force deviceinterconnecting each pair of opposed mounting means and exerting aconstant force thereon to engage the abutment means and resist saidswinging movement of the bottoms out of operative position.
 7. Thecombination of claim 6, wherein: the constant force device is ahydraulic cylinder having a constant pressure supply for extending thecylinder to engage the abutments.